So many things to share with all of our aviation friends. This summer has brought about summer camp with the Southeastern BFA Balloon Camp, some work that was needed at the ranch and some new Ranch Brother Projects. As we wind down the summer we will set forth on some new growth in the website with new educational videos, Ranch Brothers will be opening up some ride and instructional opportunities as well so big surprises that I just can’t spill the beans on quite yet.
The Southeastern BFA Balloon Camp brought 26 great kids together who were all ready and willing to soar through the skies into new adventures. Some were experienced and some were new to the sport. Prior to the first day of camp we were so excited to witness Lauren Sawin and Mark Fritz work diligently to take her solo flight. She did a phenomenal job and we are so happy that she flew right by the ranch. Throughout camp she continued to gain hours and is such a positive part of what ballooning has to offer. We were so blessed to take part in the fun that these kids had throughout camp including balloon olympics, bonfires, scavenger hunt and over 100 touch and go’s from our local airport to across town. They brought smiles to so many faces and we received lots of messages from people around town that were amazed with the idea that there were 26 students flying over Cordele. It was a blessing to be a part of making this happen. Duncan Dunavent and Danielle DiPrimo did a fabulous job as Camp Directors and Aviation Ranch was happy to be a large sponsor for this camp to encourage the continuation of this sport for years to come.
In the hot dog days of summer the grass never stops growing at the ranch. You can mow and watch it grow just as fast. Jessica mowed three times during camp so that it was well kept for whatever they may need it for, tethers, launch, landing, or just training. We worked on screening in the front porch in order to help fight the state bird (gnat). In case you are unaware please know that the ‘Gnat Line’ is real and it generally runs from Columbus, to Macon, to Augusta. There is no real way to fight them, but they do disappear for the most part in the cooler months, so plan your trip accordingly. As for the rest of us we are working on installing fans and screens on the front porch and hope that helps. We are also working on the tiki bar/outdoor kitchen and we have upgraded our electrical panel with the final approvals from the county and the power company. We can start working on some other projects now that those steps are complete. We also took a day or so and installed a roof (with the help of the Nutting Family and Eric Brown) over the propane tank to battle the sun and the damage it could possibly do to exposure of the propane lines. We are grateful for the extra hands.
The Ranch Brothers have been working diligently on some projects that have set many wheels in motion. We can not wait to share all these exciting things with you. For now I will share that we have decided to set forth some recognition awards for crew members that you believe deserve more than a t-shirt. Those that share your sense of adventure make your flights fun and safe, and those crew members that make you love the sport that much more. We are also going to contact some Legends that have graced us with the art of ballooning; i think it is time for them to share the stories that brought us where we are today — safer. These Legends have flown in places that we could not fathom, they are the reason rules are put into place, but man did they have fun making it happen. So be on the lookout for Legends Corner coming to our next issue and if you have a Legend or a Crew Member that you wish to be recognized let us know. We want to hear from all the Heroes in our lives.
Have you been on the website lately? We have more than 80 pages of stuff on there and adding more all the time. Recent additions to the Aviation Ranch website include a private pilot practice test, competition video tutorials, how to read sectionals and learning about Airspace, reading a competition map and more all the time. Log in and answer some of the questions in the Poll (Pole) Barn or try your skill on the Private Pilot test. There are so many things within the site it is hard to list them all. Remember to log in. There is a large portion of the site that is viewable only by Ranch Members. Tell your crew, friends and fellow pilots to become a member. There is no fee and it only takes a minute of your time but the resources you will find are priceless.
Until Next time catch those dreams by the crownline!
